Wasco (formerly, Dewey and Deweyville)
is a city in the
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley ( ; Spanish language in California, Spanish: ''Valle de San Joaquín'') is the southern half of California's Central Valley (California), Central Valley. Famed as a major breadbasket, the San Joaquin Valley is an importa ...
, in
Kern County, California
Kern County is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 909,235. Its county seat is Bakersfield, California, Bakersfield.
Kern County compris ...
, United States. Wasco is located northwest of
Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region.
Bakersfield's population as of the ...
,
at an elevation of .
The population was 27,047 at the 2020 census, up from 25,545 at the 2010 census.
Wasco is the headquarters of the
Tejon Indian Tribe of California
The Tejon Indian Tribe is a federally recognized tribe of Kitanemuk, Yokuts, Paiute and Chumash Indigenous people of California.
Their ancestral homeland is the southern San Joaquin Valley, San Emigdio Mountains, and Tehachapi Mountains. Toda ...
, a
federally recognized
This is a list of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States. There are also federally recognized Alaska Native tribes. , 574 Indian tribes are legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United States. tribe of
Kitanemuk
The Kitanemuk are an Indigenous people of California and were a tribal village of the Kawaiisu Nation. The Kawaiisu traditionally lived in the Tehachapi Mountains and the Antelope Valley area of the western Mojave Desert of southern Californi ...
,
Yokuts
The Yokuts (previously known as MariposasPowell, 1891:90–91.) are an ethnic group of Native Americans native to central California. Before European contact, the Yokuts consisted of up to 60 tribes speaking several related languages. Yokuts ...
, and
Chumash
Chumash may refer to:
*Chumash (Judaism), a Hebrew word for the Pentateuch, used in Judaism
*Chumash people, a Native American people of southern California
*Chumashan languages, Indigenous languages of California
See also
* Pentateuch (dis ...
Indigenous people of California
Indigenous peoples of California, commonly known as Indigenous Californians or Native Californians, are a diverse group of nations and peoples that are indigenous to the geographic area within the current boundaries of California before and afte ...
.
History
The name Dewey was in honor of Admiral
George Dewey
George Dewey (December 26, 1837January 16, 1917) was Admiral of the Navy, the only person in United States history to have attained that rank. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, wi ...
, a hero of the
Spanish–American War
The Spanish–American War (April 21 – August 13, 1898) was fought between Restoration (Spain), Spain and the United States in 1898. It began with the sinking of the USS Maine (1889), USS ''Maine'' in Havana Harbor in Cuba, and resulted in the ...
.
The Deweyville post office opened in 1899, and changed its name to Wasco in 1907.
The origin of the name Wasco is subject of two different theories: (1) That it was coined from
Western American Sugar Company; and (2) that it was named by a resident from
Wasco County, Oregon.
Wasco is the site of the
Fourth Home Extension Colony, founded in 1907 by the
American Home Extension Association.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , all of it land. At the 2000 census, according to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city had a total area of , all of it land. Wasco is located on the floor of the San Joaquin Valley, at the intersection of California State Routes
43, which runs north–south, and
46, which runs east–west.
Climate
According to the
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
system, Wasco has a
semi-arid climate
A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of se ...
(''BSh'', bordering on ''BSk'') with extremely hot, dry summers and mild to cool winters. The average annual mean temperature is .
Demographics
2010
At the
2010 census Wasco had a population of 25,545. The population density was . The racial makeup of Wasco was 12,579 (49.2%) White, 1,951 (7.6%) African American, 283 (1.1%) Native American, 180 (0.7%) Asian, 12 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 9,714 (38.0%) from other races, and 826 (3.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19,585 persons (76.7%).
The census reported that 19,825 people (77.6% of the population) lived in households, 10 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 5,710 (22.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 5,131 households, 3,143 (61.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,894 (56.4%) were
opposite-sex married couples living together, 992 (19.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 484 (9.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 478 (9.3%)
unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 27 (0.5%)
same-sex married couples or partnerships. 575 households (11.2%) were one person and 243 (4.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.86. There were 4,370 families (85.2% of households); the average family size was 4.11.
The age distribution was 7,351 people (28.8%) under the age of 18, 3,687 people (14.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,621 people (33.7%) aged 25 to 44, 4,593 people (18.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,293 people (5.1%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 28.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 160.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 192.5 males.
There were 5,477 housing units at an average density of 581.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,680 (52.2%) were owner-occupied and 2,451 (47.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.1%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.0%. 10,486 people (41.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,339 people (36.6%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
At the
2000 census there were 21,263 people in 3,971 households, including 3,403 families, in the city. The population density was . There were 4,256 housing units at an average density of . The
racial makeup of the city was 34.64% White, 10.27% Black or African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 50.46% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 66.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 3,971 households 55.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.3% were non-families. 11.6% of households were one person and 5.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.79 and the average family size was 4.07.
The age distribution was 27.4% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 39.4% from 25 to 44, 13.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 183.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 230.6 males.
The median
income
Income is the consumption and saving opportunity gained by an entity within a specified timeframe, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. Income is difficult to define conceptually and the definition may be different across fields. F ...
for a householder in the city was $28,997, and the median family income was $30,506. Males had a median income of $48,105 versus $18,697 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,228. About 24.3% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
People in group quarters
Source:
* 7,975 people in
Wasco State Prison
* 1,226 people in other types of correctional institutions
* 10 people in homes for the mentally ill
* 8 people in other non-institutional group quarters
Economy

One of Wasco's major economic activities is agriculture, specifically the growing of
rose bushes. In 2007 fifty-five percent of all roses grown in the United States were grown in or around Wasco. Two of Wasco's major nurseries closed in 2010, and by 2011 Wasco was producing only approximately forty percent of US-grown roses.
Oil and gas extraction is a significant part of the local economy. The Wasco Oil Field was discovered in April 1938, by
Continental Oil Company. The large
Semitropic Oil Field is along State Route 46 about west of town. Formerly a gas field, the region now mainly produces oil. Vintage Production, an arm of
Occidental Petroleum
Occidental Petroleum Corporation (often abbreviated Oxy in reference to its ticker symbol and logo) is an American company engaged in hydrocarbon exploration in the United States and the Middle East as well as petrochemical manufacturing in the ...
, is the primary operator as of 2010.
Sports
The
Wasco Reserve (called the Reserves in their 2019 debut season) were a professional baseball team competing in the independent
Pecos League
The Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs is an independent professional baseball league headquartered in Houston, which operates in cities in desert mountain regions throughout California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, ...
which is not affiliated with
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
or
Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...
. Their home games through the 2021 season were played at Wasco Athletic Park, sharing Bakersfield's
Sam Lynn Ballpark for their 2022 final season.
Transportation
The
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
service, the ''
San Joaquins'', stops at the
Wasco station, which has one platform next to the single track; the station building was demolished in 2021. Being on the route of the
high speed rail project without a stop, Wasco city officials have expressed concerns that the Amtrak service might be discontinued. , no decision has been announced. The construction has impacted the city and the costs for asbestos removal are in dispute in a labor housing complex that had to be abandoned and demolished. While paid relocation costs, the city can’t afford to demolish the camp and wants the rail authority to pay. Chief Executive Brian Kelly came to the city to discuss the issue in 2021.
Notable people
*
Pablo Garza, American mixed martial artist
*
Suzanne Lacy, artist, educator and activist
*
Aaron Merz, former American football offensive lineman
*
Jim Napier, former minor league baseball catcher and manager
*
Manuel Quezada, professional boxer
*
Carl Smith, American football coach
In popular culture
The town is featured in Episode 133 of ''
California's Gold'' with
Huell Howser
Huell Burnley Howser (October 18, 1945 – January 7, 2013) was an American television personality, actor, producer, writer, singer, and voice artist, best known for hosting, producing, and writing ''California's Gold'' and his human interest sh ...
, filmed in 2007.
In the movie "
Son in Law" featuring comedian
Pauly Shore
Paul Montgomery Shore (born February 1, 1968) is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for his roles in 1990s comedy films. Shore began as a stand-up comedian at the age of 17, before becoming an MTV VJ in 1989. This led to a starring ...
, the opening credit flyover shots and the opening graduation scene, were filmed in Wasco, CA and at the Wasco High School football stadium respectively.
Gallery
File:Wasco,_California,_train_station.jpg, Amtrak station, January 2014
File:2010-1227-WascoCityHall.jpg, City Hall, December 2010
File:2010-1227-WascoUHSAud.jpg, The Wasco Union High School Auditorium is on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
.
See also
*
Alpaugh, California
*
M.V. Hartranft, land developer in Wasco
References
External links
*
{{authority control
1899 establishments in California
1945 establishments in California
Cities in Kern County, California
Incorporated cities and towns in California
Populated places established in 1899
Populated places established in 1945